staci

February 12, 2021

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8

How do we come near to God? Prayer is certainly one way, and another is to read and study God’s Word. God has always spoken to his people through his Word, and his message is as clear and relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. If you’ve been reading devotionals on this page for the last few months, you’ve experienced what it means to come near to God every day.

Lent begins next week, on Ash Wednesday, February 17. Pastor Carol Peters has written a devotio06nal study book for this Lenten season, Costly Grace: Obeying the Commands of Christ. The book provides daily devotions, six days a week, for the six weeks of Lent. If you begin reading next week, the readings will take you all the way to Palm Sunday and Holy Week.

To encourage you to dive deeply into this unique devotional, we’re taking a break on this page during Lent. You’re invited to pick up a copy of the book in the church office, free of charge. Or download a copy at lacasadecristo.com/lent

We hope reading this devotional will lead you into a deeper relationship with God as you travel on your Lenten journey.

February 11, 2021

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Matthew 6:19-21

I was 19 years old, it was my sister’s wedding day, and the whole family was getting dressed and ready. My mother asked me to run upstairs and get her treasured floating opal earrings and necklace, a gift from my dad many years before. I retrieved them and started back downstairs to give them to her when, to my horror, one of the earrings dropped and broke! I feared the worst, but my mother’s response was, “It’s just a thing!” I couldn’t believe my ears because I knew how much she loved those earrings. But my mother has always been a faith-filled, grace-filled woman and she was living that out on that day, and I have never forgotten it. Even though she treasured that gift from my dad, she never put things before relationships and demonstrated to me what God’s Word teaches in Matthew. My mother is now 93 years old and still has a child-like faith, with her focus always on Jesus.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the example my mother is to me. I pray that I will always keep my focus on laying up treasures in heaven and living for You alone, not for things of this earth.

Nancy Gerardo

February 10, 2021

And it shall be, if He calls you that you must say, “Speak for Your servant hears.” 1 Samuel 3:9

The verse above is from one of my favorite Bible stories. After having prayed fervently to God for a child, Hannah gives birth to a son, Samuel. In gratitude for God’s blessing, Hannah places Samuel in the care of the temple priest, Eli, for training in service to God.

At that time in the Old Testament, God had been relatively quiet. “And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation”
(1 Samuel 3:1). Can you relate to this verse? Doesn’t it seem like the world is doing its best to suppress God’s word and remove His presence from our culture? Even so, God speaks to those who are faithful.

In Samuel’s case, it took three tries for him to recognize God’s voice. Three times God called Samuel’s name and each time he ran to Eli saying, “Here I am.” Three times Eli told the boy that he hadn’t called him and he should go back to bed. Until finally, “Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. Therefore, Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go lie down and it shall be if He calls you that you must say, ‘Speak Lord for Your servant hears.’ ” (1 Samuel 3:9)

If any story illustrates the statement that faith is not about perfection, faith is about direction, it’s this one. Samuel’s response isn’t perfect – he mistakes God’s voice for Eli’s three times! But Samuel’s response is an example I want to live by. When called, he answered. He came running, ready to be directed into action.

Where is God directing you in 2021? And how will you respond?

Heavenly Father, grant me the ability to hear your call and to respond with an obedient and grateful heart. Here I am Lord. Will you send me? Amen

Kim Atchison

February 9, 2021

Jesus replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. Luke 21:8

 I saw this post online and it made me think of how we are fooled by people and things all around us. The image shows a stack of what looks like four perfect pancakes dripping in maple syrup. However, the caption reads, “Motor oil is often used instead of syrup for pancake commercials because the oil won’t be absorbed by the pancakes.”

Wow! When we put our faith and trust in the wrong person or things, we are only fooling ourselves. God doesn’t trick us or show us one thing and give us something else. God is, and will always be, true to His word. 

This week, when you are stopped at a traffic light, think of three things that God has done for you or others. For example, God has given us the Holy Spirit, so we are always connected to Him. 

Laurie Secor